Increased Violence on Officers

Published January 27th, 2011

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It's been a deadly month in Florida for law enforcement officers. Five officers have died in the line of duty this year when suspects resorted to violence as the only way out. Experts who study the issue say there isn't an increase of violence on officers but suggest that officers become the bad guy in any shooting scenario.
Doctor Marshall Knudson of the crisis center at Alachua County's Health Department says even when a law enforcement officer is killed, society seems to ask what did they do wrong? Knudson says officers should not be ridiculed for what they did right or wrong in a situation because they are people that care too.
Corporal Courtnay Roberts of Gainesville Police feels the recent shootings, in Miami and St. Pete, that resulted in four officer deaths, make him extra analyze his surroundings. Roberts says "do people recognize me for what I do, do people remember that maybe I put somebody in jail, or the fact that i'm just a police officer and they're having a bad day." Roberts feels officers have become the target of increased violence.
Just yesterday in Dixie County, sheriff's deputies had to shoot a suspect twice after they say he swung a shovel at officers. The family accused them of being trigger happy.
Dr. Knudson says its ludicrous for people to assume deputies are overreacting because of recent tragic events of officer deaths.